The Asutifi District Assembly in the Brong Ahafo Region has provided 2,600 pieces of furniture to schools in the district. The presentation was in line with government's agenda of ensuring human resource development giving priority attention to the educational sector. The Assembly in conjunction with other development partners was also helping to address the shortfall in teachers through the engagement of rural education volunteers to teach in deprived schools. Mr. Opoku Peprah, District Chief Executive, said this at a Peoples' Assembly at Gambia No.1 a suburb of Asutifi on Monday. He said to maintain trained teachers in the area; the District Assembly was sponsoring teacher trainees who would be posted to the district on completion of their courses. About 54 of such trainees were currently on the waiting list for sponsorship, he added. On health, the DCE stated that four nurses sponsored by the Assembly had passed out and were undergoing orientation at Kenyasi, while others were undergoing training at Biaso, Nkaseim, Goamu and Apenamadi. The DCE said the Assembly had released a vehicle to the district health insurance scheme for its outreach programmes to improve the registration of members. He expressed regret at the performance of the town and area councils in spite of the construction of offices for some of them and urged the people to support the councils to perform better. Mr. Peprah said the school feeding programme was in progress at Gambia Number Two and Nkrankrom, and that under the National Youth Employment Programme, 144 youth had been recruited as teachers, 60 as nurses and 20 sanitary inspectors. The Chief of Gambia Number One, Nana Kofi Karikari, expressed concern about the deplorable conditions of roads as well as the illegal felling of timber in the area. During question time, Mr. Paul Awafu asked about the several check points and barriers mounted by the police in the area to which Chief Superintendent Kofi Asare, Goaso Divisional Police Commander explained that they were snap checks meant to curb the smuggling of goods at the border town. On allegations of the police personnel demanding bribes from drivers at these check points, the police commander appealed to the public to take down the numbers and names of such personnel and submit it to the district office for action. A questioner, Nana Gyamfi, called for an increase in the personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service to enable it to adequately help protect life and property. When a questioner suggested that a tertiary institution be established in the area to help reduce the anxiety of students in seeking admission into such institutions, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, Minister of Ports, Railways and Harbours advised students not to only consider entering Universities, but also to think of furthering their education at the Polytechnics to acquire employable skills. He however stated that plans to make Polytechnics degree-awarding institutions were underway. Mr. Kofi Amponsah, NDC constituency Chairman for Gambia No. 2 appealed for the replacement of a broken-down electricity transformer in the area. Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, promised that the regional Co-ordinating Council would assist them to get a new transformer soon. In answer to a demand for the re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools, Mr. Yaw Ntow Ababio, Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, explained that the issue was not the lack of corporal punishment but rather counselling of the youth by both parents and teachers. Source: GNA